Confederate Flag To Be Removed From Federal Graveyards

For the moment, the confederate battle flag known affectionately by some as the “rebel flag” will still be allowed to be placed on graves of confederate soldiers in federal graveyards run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

But the U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to prohibit the flag from being flown on flagpoles at those sites.

According to Fox News, “Lawmakers voted 265-159 on a Democratic amendment offered by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) that would bar the Civil War symbol from being flown at cemeteries run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It was the first time the House has cast a ballot on the divisive issue.”

The amendment is tied to a 2017 bill funding the VA and military construction projects, and was offered shortly after midnight on Thursday. It was the second attempt within 24 hours by Democrats to go after public displays of the rebel flag.

The first attempt, rejected by Republicans, sought to force The Citadel to remove the rebel flag from flying at the prestigious military academy located in Charleston, S.C.

The passage of the bill comes a year after a similar amendment was floated after a massacre at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston was determined to be racially motivated. That measure failed with many Southern Republicans objecting to the measure.

Advertisement - story continues below

This year, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) joined Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise in voting for the measure.

“Over 150 years ago, slavery was abolished…Why, in the year 2016, are we still condoning displays of this hateful symbol on our sacred national cemeteries?” Huffman said on the House floor.

Currently, the flag is only flown on Memorial Day and Confederate Memorial Day, but Huffman apparently believes that is two days too many. According to Fox News, there was opposition to the amendment. “Reps. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) briefly tried to offer counter-proposals, but either withdrew their amendments or were told they were out of order.”

The move is likely to upset civil war re-enactment groups such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who value the flag for its historic significance. The SCV issued a proclamation in 2010 condemning the flag’s use by extremist groups, hate groups, and groups wishing to use the flag to advance any political extremism.